Under siege in Léré, the latest Malian town cut off by jihadists
Jihadist militants have imposed a strict blockade on the Malian city of Léré, severely disrupting vital supply routes and movement in the Timbuktu region. The tactic is not new, with similar sieges disrupting towns in central and northern Mali.
The blockade, enforced by the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), began on 29 November.
Léré, roughly 60 kilometres from the Mauritanian border, now faces restricted access, with the effects rippling through the region.
JNIM's strategy mirrors tactics used against other population centres, including a major blockade of Timbuktu city one year ago.
Supply routes cut
“Trucks were stuck at the town’s entrance, and eventually turned back,” said several residents of Lere and the surrounding area.
A regional transporter said the road connecting Léré’s to Niono and further south to the capital, Bamako, had been completely severed.
Vehicles from Mauritania face the same issue.
"Goods must be transported by pinasse boats from Mopti via the river," said the transporter, adding that rising water levels have further complicated the situation.
Multiple local sources confirmed the severity of what they described as a "total blockade".
Some trucks from Algeria have reportedly managed to enter the city, according to certain sources.
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